Wimba Voice. Version 5.3. User Guide

Transcription

1 Wimba Voice Version 5.3 User Guide

2 Wimba Voice User Guide 1 Introduction 1 About Wimba Voice 1 Wimba Voice Manager 2 Account Roles 2 My Manager 2 Getting Started 3 Voice Board 4 Voice Board Creation 5 Settings and Access Control 5 Information 5 Settings 6 Basic Rights 7 Privileged Users and Groups 8 Statistics 8 Publish 8 Using Voice Boards 9 Composing a New Thread 9 Replying to a Message 10 Reviewing a Message 11 Editing a Message 11 Deleting a Message 11 Forwarding a Message 12 Saving Message Audio 12 Detaching a Voice Board 13 Options 13 Play on Click 13 Continuous Play 13 Expand/Collapse All 14 Refresh 14

3 Advanced Features 15 Importing 15 Exporting 16 Publishing Individual Messages 17 Reordering Messages 17 Voice Presentation 18 Voice Presentation Creation 19 Settings and Access Control 19 Information 19 Settings 20 Basic Rights 21 Privileged Users and Groups 21 Statistics 22 Publish 22 Using Voice Presentation 23 Posting a New Slide 23 Posting a Comment 25 Reviewing a Slide 25 Editing a Slide 26 Deleting a Slide 26 Saving Audio 26 Reordering Slides 27 Options 27 Play on Click 27 Continuous Play 28 Expand/Collapse All 28 Refresh 28 Importing 29 Exporting 30

4 Wimba Podcaster 31 Wimba Podcaster Creation 32 Settings and Access Control 32 Information 32 Settings 33 Publish 33 Using Wimba Podcaster 34 Creating a New Podcast Message 34 Reviewing a Message 35 Playback Options 36 Editing a Message 36 Deleting a Message 37 Subscribing to Podcasts 37 Importing 38 Exporting 39 Saving Message Audio 40 Voice 41 Voice Creation 42 Settings and Access Control 42 Information 42 Settings 43 Public Access 44 Privileged Users and Groups 44 Archives 44 Statistics 45 Publish 45 Using Voice 46 Creating a Message 46 Voice Receipt 48 Accessing Archives 48

5 Detaching a Voice Form 48 Voice Recorder 49 Voice Recorder Creation 50 Settings and Access Control 50 Information 50 Settings 51 Public Access 51 Privileged Users and Groups 51 View All Messages 52 Using Voice Recorder 53 Voice Recorder / Voice Player 53 Saving Message Audio 55 Voice Recorder Publishing 56 Product Feedback 57 Disclaimer 58

6 Wimba Voice User Guide Introduction About Wimba Voice Wimba Voice is a suite of applications that allows you to record and send voice over the Internet. Wimba Voice consists of the following 5 features: Voice Board: Post and listen to voice messages within discussion boards Voice Presentation: Add web content alongside vocal messages Wimba Podcaster: Create or upload podcasts for user subscription Voice Send and listen to voice through messages Voice Recorder: Record and listen to voice on a web page You may create an unlimited number of instances of each feature. 1

7 Wimba Voice Manager The Wimba Voice Manager is a web-based interface that allows you to create, manage, and access Wimba Voice features. Note: If you have integrated Wimba Voice with a Course Management System (CMS), you do not need to access the Wimba Voice Manager. Account Roles Each user who accesses the Wimba Voice Manager belongs to one of the following privileged groups: Users have the lowest access privileges and receive access to specific Wimba Voice features; they are typically students. PowerUsers create and manage their own Wimba Voice features; they are typically instructors. Administrators create and manage all Wimba Voice features, Users, Groups, and the Manager itself. My Manager You should have received your Wimba Voice Manager URL and account information. Upon log in, the My Manager tab at the top of the page is highlighted. From here, you can access all available Wimba Voice features. To Access a Wimba Voice Feature Instance 1. Click the link for the Wimba Voice feature of your choice 2. Click the View (eye) icon to the right of the desired instance You may also change your password and/or interface language (English or French). To Modify Your Profile 1. Click the Edit my profile link, located under the Welcome message, toward the upper left-hand corner of the screen 2. The Profile Information screen will appear. If you wish to change the interface language, select either en (English) or fr (French) from the Language drop-down menu 3. To change your password, enter your current password in the Old password field. Enter your new password in both the Password and Confirm password fields 4. Click the Update profile button in the lower right Note: If you do not remember your password, a Forgot your password? link may be available on the Manager login page. 2

8 Getting Started If you are a PowerUser or Administrator, you may create, edit, copy, and delete instances of Wimba Voice features. The same process applies to all five features. To Create a New Wimba Voice Feature Instance 1. Click the link for the Wimba Voice feature of your choice 2. Click the New button in the center of the screen To Edit Settings of an Existing Instance 1. Click the link for the Wimba Voice feature of your choice 2. Click the name of the desired instance 3. A new page will appear; select the appropriate category on the left-hand side of the screen To Copy a Wimba Voice Feature Instance 1. Click the link for the Wimba Voice feature of your choice 2. Click the Copy icon to the right of that instance A separate, identical instance will be created -- preserving all content and settings from the original instance. Any changes made to an original, or new, instance will not affect the other instance. To Delete a Wimba Voice Feature Instance 1. Click the link for the Wimba Voice feature of your choice 2. Click the Delete icon to the right of the desired instance Note: Alternately, you may click the checkbox to the left of any instance, followed by the Delete Selected link at the bottom of the feature list, to delete one or more instances. When creating and managing Wimba Voice features, you may use the navigation links at the top of each page (the "breadcrumb" bar) to move through the Manager. If you are an Administrator, two tabs will be available at the top of the page. 3

9 Voice Board Overview A threaded, voice-based discussion board that can also be used for one to one vocal exercises Introduction You have likely used message boards before, outside of instructional design. But have you ever had the opportunity to add a vocal contribution to these boards, or engage in a private conversation utilizing both voice and text? Voice Boards take communication to the next level, simply by adding voice to an intuitive, conversational interface. 4

10 Voice Board Creation To Create a Voice Board 1. Log in to the Manager as a PowerUser or Administrator 2. Click the Voice Board link 3. Click the New button in the center of the screen 4. Enter a Name for your Voice Board 5. Click the Create button Settings and Access Control You may adjust settings to modify the behavior and appearance of your Voice Board. From the list of Voice Boards, click the name of the instance you wish to modify. A new page will appear with a list of categories on the left-hand side of the page. Information The Information area allows you to modify the Name of your Voice Board and specify additional, optional info. A Description is useful for posting important text, such as a due date or instructions. This text appears below the Board name and above the applet. You may enter the URL of the page where you will host your Voice Board. A link to this page will appear in s users receive, if they choose to be notified when a new message is posted. An Instructor may also select which individuals are notified within the Privileged Users / Groups areas. If you make any modifications to this area, click the Apply button in the lower right-hand corner. 5

11 Settings Display short message titles By default, message titles contain a wealth of information: Subject Name of individual who posted the message Length of recording (if audio is associated with the message) Posting date If you select short message titles, only the subject line and the name of the individual who posted the message will be displayed. Display messages in chronological order By default, messages are displayed in the order in which they were posted to the Voice Board, with the newest messages at the top of the Board. If you select to view messages in chronological order, the oldest messages will appear at the top of the Board, and the newest at the bottom. This may be helpful to track student progress over time, reviewing their first posts at the top of the Board. Allow users to start a new thread By default, both students and instructors can compose new, top-level threads to a Voice Board. Deselect this setting to restrict this student ability. It will not limit student-to-student interaction, unless you make the Voice Board discussion threads private or also do not allow users to reply to messages (described below). Allow users to forward a message Granting this privilege allows users to send any post to an external address. The will contain a link to any audio associated with the post, as well as its text and a note the student can type before sending. Allow users to reply to messages By default, both students and instructors can reply to any message posted to a Voice Board. Deselect this setting to restrict this student ability. Depending on the other settings you choose, you can either: Make a Board "read-only," where users cannot post messages (if you neither allow users to start a new thread nor allow users to reply to messages) Only allow users to compose top-level threads (if you only allow users to start a new thread) Note: This second option will only function on public boards (where discussion threads are not private) Make discussion threads private If discussion threads are private, only one-on-one communication between an instructor and a student is allowed. If this option is selected: Only instructors can compose new threads Students can only view their own replies and replies to them from the instructor Instructors can view all replies 6

12 Private threads allow for an instructor-student dialogue hidden from other students. An instructor can use this option to build assessments to which each student individually responds. The instructor can then privately respond to each student and securely provide grades and comments. Voice Boards can be reused each semester, their content re-purposed whenever necessary. Audio Quality The default setting (Standard Quality) will suit most needs. However, you may adjust the quality higher or lower, depending on your users connectivity to the Internet. Standard Quality streams audio messages at a rate of approximately 13 kilobits per second (kbps), which works well for users on high and lower-bandwidth connections alike. Max audio message length You may adjust the maximum duration for which someone may speak. This may be useful if you plan to use the Voice Board for timed assessment. Resource's allowed document bases A list of authorized web pages where PowerUsers and Administrators may embed (also known as publish) this Voice Board. URLs must begin with either an or prompt, and end with a trailing slash and an asterisk. This allows pages within these domains to publish applets. (i.e., Note: The Wimba Voice server itself also contains a master list of Allowed URLs, set by an Administrator. If you include a URL not in the master list, only this resource may be published on the specified URL. After you have finished adjusting settings, click the Apply button in the lower right-hand corner. Basic Rights In the Basic Rights area, you may set access controls to determine who exactly may view (read) messages and post (compose) messages to your Voice Board. By default, these privileges are both set to "Only privileged users." Three options are available: "Any user" (guest access): anyone has access; no Wimba Voice Manager account is necessary. Users will be prompted to enter a Screen Name to access the Voice Board. "Any logged-in user" (registered users): Anyone with a Wimba Voice Manager account has access. "Only privileged users" (designated users): Only certain users and/or groups (that you specify the Privileged users and Privileged groups areas) have access. Click the Apply button to save your settings. If you selected "Only privileged users," click the Privileged users / Privileged groups links on the left-hand side of the page to specify which users / groups have rights to the Board. Note: If you select "Any user" or "Any logged-in user," you do not need to click the Privileged users / Privileged groups links. You may proceed to the Publish area. 7

13 Privileged Users and Groups If you chose "Only privileged users" for your Voice Board, you need to grant access to specific users and / or groups (otherwise, click the Publish link). To select users, type the login of the user to grant access and select the appropriate level(s) of access: Read: View messages Post: View and create new messages Admin: PowerUser rights when using Voice Board (Caution: Users given this right will have full PowerUser rights -- including message editing and deletion) Notified: Receive notifications of Voice Board modifications Note: Providing a User with Admin rights may be useful if you would like a Teaching Assistant to have PowerUser privileges within the Board, but not the right to actually create a Voice Board. Click the Apply button to save your changes. Repeat this process to add other users. To set Group privileges, click the Privileged groups link on the left and choose the appropriate level(s) of access from the list of Groups displayed. Statistics The Statistics area displays usage information for a Voice Board, including: Average number of messages posted per user Total number of messages Breakdown of the number of messages posted per user Percentage of each user's contribution to the Board An link will be available in the User Name column for all registered users; this link does not appear for anyone who posted to the Board as a Guest ("Any User" access). Publish Registered users may log in to the Wimba Voice Manager and access a Voice Board. However, you may also publish it on a web page. Follow the on-screen instructions to copy and paste the appropriate code from the Publish page to distribute a link to the Voice Board, create a link on a web page (using HTML code), or embed the Voice Board on a web page. 8

14 Using Voice Boards Once a Voice Board is created, and you are satisfied with its settings, it is ready for immediate use. To Access a Voice Board 1. Log in to the Manager 2. Click the Voice Board link 3. Click the View (eye) icon located to the right of any instance from the list of Voice Boards. 4. The Voice Board will load in a new window. You can resize a Voice Board by dragging the gray bar (above the message pane) up or down. Composing a New Thread Creating a New Thread The New button, located in the upper left-hand corner of the Voice Board, allows new threads to be created. This button is always available for instructors, but will only be available to students under the following conditions: Users are allowed to start new threads Discussion threads have not been made private Click the New button to compose a new thread. A new Compose window will appear. Adding a recording to a Voice Board message is optional however, the ability to do so is at the core of this applet. Subject Enter a relevant title for your post in the Subject field. This field is required. Preparing Your Microphone (Optional) Several optional features allow you to change your recording device and enhance your audio quality. 1. Click the Menu icon (small striped square), located in the upper right-hand corner of the Audio applet. 2. Select Audio Input, followed by the device of your choice 3. Select Audio Filters. By default, the two filters (Auto Gain to normalize voice and Noise Reduction to minimize background noise) are selected. You may enable/disable these as you see fit. Note: These settings will not be preserved when you reload or change a Voice Board. 9

15 Recording a Message 1. Click the Record button (red circle) and speak into a microphone or headset connected to your computer to record your message The Time Indicator on the left-hand side of the applet displays your current position; the indicator on the right shows remaining time. If you reach the maximum audio message length, recording will cease. All audio you have recorded up to that point will be preserved. 2. Click Pause (two bars) to pause recording; click this button again to resume recording your message 3. Click Stop (square) when you have completed your message 4. Click Play (green triangle) to listen to your message. Click Record to re-record. Notes: During review, you may change your playback device by clicking the Menu icon. Select Audio Output, followed by the device of your choice. During playback (or when a message is paused), you may hold down your mouse button and drag the Slider Control to rewind or fast-forward to a particular point in the message. Adding Text to a Message To enter text to accompany your recording, click and type in the large text field at the bottom of the Compose window. Typing a message is optional, but may provide helpful information (such as instructions or an assessment question for users), or text that complements your recording. Posting a Message When you are satisfied with your recording, and have entered a Subject (as well as any appropriate text), click the Post button at the bottom of the Compose window. If you do not wish to post this message, click the Close (X) button in the upper right-hand corner of the Compose window (Windows), or the red button in the upper left-hand corner (Mac), followed by the Yes button in the Confirm window. Replying to a Message By default, both students and instructors have the ability to reply to messages -- however, this privilege may be disabled for students. To reply to a message, click the appropriate message from the top half of the Voice Board, followed by the Reply button in the upper left-hand corner. A new window will open. The process for creating a reply is identical to that of a new thread; the only difference is that any text associated with the message to which you are replying appears inline in the large text field at the bottom of the message. You can leave this text for reference, delete, or overwrite it. For complete details, refer to Composing a New Thread. 10

16 Reviewing a Message The following indicators appear to the right of each message title: Messages with text (but with no audio recording) display a white paper icon Messages with audio (but with no text) display a black speaker icon Messages that contain both audio and text display both a speaker and a paper icon To Review a Message 1. Click a message title in the top half of the Voice Board 2. The message (and its text) will appear in the message pane at the bottom of the Board. 3. To listen to an audio message, click the Play button within the Audio applet 4. To raise/lower volume, click the Volume Control button, in the lower left-hand corner of the applet 5. To change your playback device, click the Menu icon (small striped square), in the upper right-hand corner of the applet 6. Select Audio Output, followed by the device of your choice During playback (or when a message is paused), you may hold down your mouse button and drag the Slider Control to rewind or fast-forward to a particular point in the message. The Time Indicator on the left-hand side of the applet displays your current position; the indicator on the right shows remaining time. Editing a Message If you wish to modify a posted message, click the Edit button at the top of the Board. A new window will appear, providing the ability to record/re-record an audio message, as well as alter any text and/or the Subject field. Editing is only available to individuals with instructor level privileges, who may edit any post on the Board (including messages from other instructors and any student). Deleting a Message Entire threads, as well as single messages, can be deleted from a Voice Board at any time. Use with caution, as these messages cannot be recovered. This feature is only available to individuals with instructor level privileges. To delete a message or thread, click the appropriate message or thread in the top half of the Voice Board, followed by the Delete button at the top of the Board. A confirmation prompt will pop-up, asking if you wish to delete the message. Click the Yes button to delete the message (deleting a thread will also remove all associated replies). Click No to cancel. 11

17 Forwarding a Message A single message (including a top-level thread) can be forwarded to an external address to share this post (perhaps with someone who does not have access to the Voice Board). Instructors always have the ability to forward messages. Students only have access to this feature if the privilege was granted within the feature's settings. To forward a message, click the appropriate message or thread in the top half of the Voice Board, followed by the Forward button at the top of the Board. A new window will open. Specify the complete address(es) of the individual(s) to whom you wish to send your message, separated by a comma or semi-colon. You can add optional text as a note to this forwarded message by clicking and typing in the large text field at the bottom of the window. Click the Send button at the bottom of the window when ready to forward this message. An will be sent to the addresses specified, containing the following: All text associated with the Voice Board message Any text entered as a note in the Forward window The forwarded message will contain links to listen to the audio from the post, as well as any associated text. The message will not contain any attachments; all recorded messages reside on the Wimba Voice server. Saving Message Audio Audio associated with any message can be downloaded to your local hard drive. To Save Audio 1. Click the appropriate message from the top half of the Voice Board. 2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Audio applet, click the Menu icon (small striped square), followed by Save as. 3. A new window will appear. Use the Save In drop-down menu to select the download location of your choice. (Select your Desktop or a folder you have specified for exported content so it is easy to locate later). 4. Use the Files of Type drop-down box to select the file format you wish to save. You may select.wav,.spx, or.mp3. 5. Enter an appropriate name in the File Name box and click the Save button. 12

18 Detaching a Voice Board Voice Boards can be detached, and viewed outside of the browser window, allowing you to maximize or expand the Voice Board interface. To detach a Voice Board, click the Detach button (diagonal arrow) in the upper righthand corner of the applet. To reattach the Board, simply close the detached window by clicking the small Close (X) button in its upper righthand corner (Windows), or the red button in the upper left-hand corner (Mac). Alternately, you can click the body of the original browser window to reattach the Board. Options In addition to the standard Voice Board features, the Options button provides additional playback and display abilities to students and instructors. Play on Click We have developed a more time-efficient manner for reviewing posts. Rather than first selecting a message and then clicking its Play button, you can choose to play messages automatically when clicking on them. To enable this setting, click the Options button in the upper right-hand corner of a Voice Board and then select Play on click. The next time you click on a message containing audio, playback will begin automatically. Continuous Play Continuous Play allows students and instructors to review an entire Board's content (without the need to select each individual message for playback). Messages will play from top to bottom, starting with the first message you select and ending with the last message on the Board. Only visible (uncollapsed) messages with associated audio will play. By default, all Board threads are collapsed. If you enable Continuous Play before expanding these threads (manually, or via the Expand All feature), only top-level messages will sequentially play. It is recommended that you also utilize the Play on click feature (as detailed above) for even greater ease-of-use. To Enable Continuous Play 1. Click the Options button 2. Select Continuous Play 3. Select and start the desired message from the top half of the Board 13

19 To Review an Entire Board 1. Click the Options button 2. Select Expand All 3. Click the Options button again and select Continuous Play 4. Select and start the desired message from the top half of the Board Expand/Collapse All By default, Voice Board content is organized in single, and collapsed, threads. Expanding all threads simplifies review of an entire Board, especially when using the Continuous Play feature. To display all Board content, click the Options button and then select Expand All. You may also restore the Board to its original state, which is useful if you only wish to review top-level threads via Continuous Play. To do so, click the Options button, followed by Collapse All. Refresh Each time a user accesses a Voice Board, it loads the most up-to-date content. Instructors and students may refresh the Voice Board applet at any time to review any updates made to the Board since it was launched (helpful when leaving the Board open for a long duration, or to review posts due at a certain time). To reload the Board, click the Options button and then select Refresh. 14

20 Advanced Features Beyond the scope of standard Voice Board functionality, additional features are available to PowerUsers who wish to explore further possibilities when using Voice Boards. Importing In addition to recording new messages, instructors also have the ability to import content directly to a Voice Board. This includes pre-recorded audio files, a single or multiple Voice Board message(s) / thread(s), or even an entire Voice Board. Supported formats include: MP3: Mpeg 1, layer 3 at 32, 44 or 48kHz (mono or stereo) PCM/WAV: 8bit or 16bit at 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, and 44 khz (mono or stereo) Ogg Speex (NOT Ogg Vorbis): at 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, and 44 khz (mono or stereo) GSM/WAV: 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, and 44 khz (mono or stereo) WVB: Previously exported Wimba Voice Board file To Import Content 1. Click the Import button at the top of a Voice Board. 2. A new window will open. Browse for the file on your hard drive or network drive. 3. Select the appropriate file. Note: If you wish to place this content in a special, new thread, put a check in the Place content in a top-level "Imported Messages" thread box at the bottom of the Import window. 4. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Import window. 5. An Import Progress window will appear as the file is uploaded. 6. A confirmation message will appear once the import has finished. 7. A new message will appear in the Board, titled with the name of your file. This title may be edited. You may also import a previously exported Wimba Voice Board (.wvb) file directly from the Manager interface by clicking the Import button, in the center of the screen, above the list of Boards. 15

21 Exporting Voice Board content need not remain exclusively online. Single and multiple messages, top-level threads, and entire Voice Boards can be exported to your computer for preservation or for import to another Voice Board or Presentation. Exporting content allows instructors to utilize course material every semester within new Voice Boards, as well as develop a repository of audio and text, which can be shared with other faculty members using Voice Boards. Voice Board content can be downloaded in the following formats: Wimba Voice Board (.wvb) Speex audio in archive (.zip) WAV audio in archive (.zip) MP3 audio in archive (.zip) Note: The Wimba Voice Board (.wvb) file format is only playable within a Voice Board or Voice Presentation. This format is recommended if you plan to import content to another Board or Presentation. To Export Content 1. Click the Export button at the top of a Voice Board. 2. A new window will open. Use the Select what you want to export drop-down menu at the top of the window to choose the appropriate content. 3. Use the Select the export format drop-down menu to determine your desired data output. 4. Click the Next button to select the download location of your choice. (Select your Desktop or a folder you have specified for exported content so it is easy to locate later). 5. Enter a name in the File Name box. 6. Click the Save button at the bottom of the window. Note: Opening a Voice Board without clicking a message, followed by the Export button, will allow you to export either an entire Voice Board or all top-level messages (from the Select what you want to export drop-down menu). Clicking an individual message or thread allows you to export either of the two options above, as well as that selected message/thread. To Export Multiple Individual Messages or Threads 1. Select the first message of your choice. To select the next consecutive message(s) / thread(s), hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and then click the next message/thread. To select a non-consecutive message/thread you wish to export at the same time, hold down the Control key on your keyboard and then click the appropriate message(s)/thread(s). 2. Follow the instructions above to export the content. You may also export an entire Wimba Voice Board directly from the Manager interface by clicking the Export button to the right of the appropriate resource from the list of Boards. 16

22 Publishing Individual Messages Individual Voice Board messages can be published on the web. This feature is only available to instructors. To publish audio clips, click the appropriate message from the top half of the Voice Board, followed by the Publish button at the top of the Board. A new window will open. You can review the recording by clicking the Play button at the top of the window. This window also displays a large box containing Java script. Copy and paste this code into an HTML page on your web site and the Voice Board posting will display on that page. Note: To enable playback on the webpage, the website s domain must be listed or added to the Wimba Voice server configuration file. Please speak to your Server Administrator for additional assistance. Reordering Messages Messages can be reorganized using simple drag-and-drop functionality. Drag the post of your choice above or below another post or thread. Drop the post/thread in its new location. Posts will be instantly reordered. To move a post so it becomes a reply of another post or thread, simply drag the post to a message or thread of your choice. A valid destination will be highlighted in yellow as your mouse moves over it. Entire threads may also be relocated. Dragging and dropping a thread will move the top-level post, along with all replies, to a desired new location using the methods described above. 17

23 Voice Presentation Overview A presentation consisting of web content alongside voice messages Introduction Voice Presentation allows you to associate web-based content with a voice recording. This provides a resource to create a vocal slide show, web tour, or review of any curricula across disciplines -- including web pages, images, and internet-based media. 18

24 Voice Presentation Creation To Create a Voice Presentation 1. Log in to the Manager as a PowerUser or Administrator 2. Click the Voice Presentation link 3. Click the New button in the center of the screen 4. Enter a Name for your Voice Presentation 5. Click the Create button Settings and Access Control You may adjust settings to modify the behavior and appearance of your Voice Presentation. From the list of Voice Presentations, click the name of the instance you wish to modify. A new page will appear with a list of categories on the left-hand side of the page. Information The Information area allows you to modify the Name of your Voice Presentation and specify additional, optional info. A Description is useful for posting important text, such as a due date or instructions. This text appears below the Presentation name and above the applet. You may enter the URL of the page where you will host your Voice Presentation. A link to this page will appear in s users receive, if they choose to be notified when a new message is posted. An Instructor may also select which individuals are notified within the Privileged Users / Groups areas. If you make any modifications to this area, click the Apply button in the lower right-hand corner. 19

25 Settings Allow users to comment on slides By default, both students and instructors can provide commentary on slides. Deselect this setting to restrict this student ability, allowing them only review slides. If you allow comments, they are visible to all students, unless you make slide comments private (described below). Make slide comments private If slide comments are private, only one-on-one communication between an instructor and a student is allowed. If this option is selected: Students can only view their own comments and replies to them from the instructor Instructors can view all comments Private comments allow for an instructor-student dialogue hidden from the other students. An instructor can use this option to build assessments to which each student individually responds. The instructor can then respond to each student and securely provide grades and comments. Audio Quality The default setting (Standard Quality) will suit most needs. However, you may adjust the quality higher or lower, depending on your users connectivity to the Internet. Standard Quality streams audio messages at a rate of approximately 13 kilobits per second (kbps), which works well for users on high and lower-bandwidth connections alike. Max audio message length You may adjust the maximum duration for which someone may speak. This may be useful if you plan to use Voice Presentation for timed assessment. After you have finished adjusting settings, click the Apply button in the lower right-hand corner. Resource's allowed document bases A list of authorized web pages where PowerUsers and Administrators may embed (also known as publish) this Voice Presentation. URLs must begin with either an or prompt, and end with a trailing slash and an asterisk. This allows pages within these domains to publish applets. (i.e., Note: The Wimba Voice server itself also contains a master list of Allowed URLs, set by an Administrator. If you include a URL not in the master list, only this resource may be published on the specified URL. 20

26 Basic Rights In the Basic Rights area, you may set access controls to determine who exactly may view (read) messages and post (compose) messages to your Voice Presentation. By default, these privileges are both set to "Only privileged users." Three options are available: "Any user" (guest access): anyone has access; no Wimba Voice Manager account is necessary. Users will be prompted to enter a Screen Name to access the Presentation. "Any logged-in user" (registered users): Anyone with a Wimba Voice Manager account has access. "Only privileged users" (designated users): Only certain users and/or groups (that you specify the Privileged users and Privileged groups areas) have access. Click the Apply button to save your settings. If you selected "Only privileged users," click the Privileged users / Privileged groups links on the left-hand side of the page to specify which users / groups have rights to the Presentation. Note: If you select "Any user" or "Any logged-in user," you do not need to click the Privileged users /Privileged groups links. You may proceed to the Publish area. Privileged Users and Groups If you chose "Only privileged users" for your Voice Presentation, you need to grant access to specific users and / or groups (otherwise, click the Publish link). To select users, type the login of the user to grant access and select the appropriate level(s) of access: Read: View messages Post: View and create new messages Admin: PowerUser rights when using Voice Presentation (Caution: Users given this right will be able to create, edit, and delete posts) Notified: Receive notifications of Voice Presentation modifications Note: Providing a User with Admin rights may be useful if you would like a Teaching Assistant to have PowerUser privileges within the Presentation, but not the right to actually create a Voice Presentation. Click the Apply button to save your changes. Repeat this process to add other users. To set Group privileges, click the Privileged groups link on the left and choose the appropriate level(s) of access from the list of Groups displayed. 21

27 Statistics The Statistics area displays usage information for a Voice Presentation, including: Average number of messages posted per user Total number of messages Breakdown of the number of messages posted per user Percentage of each user's contribution to the Presentation An link will be available in the User Name column for all registered users; this link does not appear for anyone who posted to the Presentation as a Guest ("Any User" access). Publish Registered users may log into the Wimba Voice Manager and access your Voice Presentation. However, you may also link to it from a web page. Follow the on-screen instructions to copy and paste the appropriate code from the Publish page to distribute a link to the Voice Presentation or create a link on a web page (using HTML code). 22

28 Using Voice Presentation Once a Voice Presentation is created, and you are satisfied with its settings, it is ready for immediate use. To Access a Voice Presentation 1. Log in to the Manager 2. Click the Voice Presentation link 3. Click the View (eye) icon located to the right of any instance from the list of Voice Boards. 4. The Presentation will load in a new window. You can resize a Presentation by dragging the gray bar (above the message pane) up or down. Posting a New Slide Creating a New Slide The New button, located in the upper left-hand corner of the Voice Presentation, allows new slides to be created. This button is only available to instructors. Click the New button to create a new slide. A new Compose window will appear. Adding a recording to a slide is optional however, this may greatly enhance displayed content. Subject Enter a relevant title for your slide in the Subject field. This field is required. URL Enter the web address of your choice in the URL field, following the prompt. You may point to any content that is web-based (for example, a PDF or Flash file), not just web sites. Note: This field only accepts addresses that begin with or Preparing Your Microphone (Optional) Several optional features allow you to change your recording device and enhance your audio quality. 1. Click the Menu icon (small striped square), located in the upper right-hand corner of the Audio applet. 2. Select Audio Input, followed by the device of your choice 3. Select Audio Filters. By default, the two filters (Auto Gain to normalize voice and Noise Reduction to minimize background noise) are selected. You may enable/disable these as you see fit. Note: These settings will not be preserved when you reload or change a Voice Presentation. 23

29 Recording a Message 1. Click the Record button (red circle) and speak into a microphone or headset connected to your computer to record your message The Time Indicator on the left-hand side of the applet displays your current position; the indicator on the right shows remaining time. If you reach the maximum audio message length, recording will cease. All audio you have recorded up to that point will be preserved. 2. Click Pause (two bars) to pause recording; click this button again to resume recording your message 3. Click Stop (square) when you have completed your message 4. Click Play (green triangle) to listen to your message. Click Record to re-record. Notes: During review, you may change your playback device by clicking the Menu icon. Select Audio Output, followed by the device of your choice. During playback (or when a message is paused), you may hold down your mouse button and drag the Slider Control to rewind or fast-forward to a particular point in the message. Adding Text to a Message To enter text to accompany your recording, click and type in the large text field at the bottom of the Compose window. Typing a message is optional, but may provide helpful information (such as instructions or an assessment question for users), or text that complements your recording. Posting a Slide When you are satisfied with your recording, and have entered a Subject and URL (as well as any appropriate text), click the Post button at the bottom of the Compose window. If you do not wish to post this message, click the Close (X) button in the upper right-hand corner of the Compose window (Windows), or the red button in the upper left-hand corner (Mac), followed by the Yes button in the Confirm window. 24

30 Posting a Comment By default, both students and instructors have the ability to comment on slides -- however, this privilege may be disabled for students. To leave a comment, click the appropriate message from the top half of the Voice Presentation, followed by the Comment button at the top of the applet. A new window will open. The process for posting a comment is similar to that of creating a slide, with two differences: Comments do not include a Subject or URL field Text associated with the original slide appears at the bottom of the message You can leave this text for reference, delete, or overwrite it. For complete details, refer to Posting a New Slide. Once a comment is posted, the name of the individual who submitted the comment is posted, in place of a Subject. Reviewing a Slide The following indicators appear to the right of each slide title: Slides with text (but with no audio recording) display a white paper icon Slides with audio (but with no text) display a black speaker icon Slides that contain both audio and text display both a speaker and a paper icon To Review a Slide 1. Click a slide title in the top half of the Voice Presentation 2. The slide (and its text) will appear in the message pane at the bottom of the Presentation. Web content will appear on the right-hand side of the window. 3. To listen to an audio message, click the Play button within the Audio applet 4. To raise/lower volume, click the Volume Control button, in the lower left-hand corner of the applet 5. To change your playback device, click the Menu icon (small striped square), in the upper right-hand corner of the applet 6. Select Audio Output, followed by the device of your choice During playback (or when a message is paused), you may hold down your mouse button and drag the Slider Control to rewind or fast-forward to a particular point in the message. The Time Indicator on the left-hand side of the applet displays your current position; the indicator on the right shows remaining time. 25

31 Editing a Slide If you wish to modify a posted slide or comment, click the Edit button at the top of the Presentation. A new window will appear, providing the ability to record/re-record an audio message, as well as alter any text, along with the Subject and/or URL fields. Editing is only available to individuals with instructor level privileges, who may edit any slide or comment on the Presentation (including slides/comments from other instructors and any student). Deleting a Slide Slide "threads" (a slide plus its associated comments), as well as single slides/comments, can be deleted from a Voice Presentation at any time. Use with caution, as this content cannot be recovered. This feature is only available to individuals with instructor level privileges. To delete a slide, comment, or slide "thread," click the appropriate item in the top half of the Presentation, followed by the Delete button at the top of the applet. A confirmation prompt will pop-up, asking if you wish to delete this content. Click the Yes button to proceed (deleting a slide "thread" will also remove all associated comments). Click No to cancel. Saving Audio Audio associated with any slide can be downloaded to your local hard drive. To Save Audio 1. Click the appropriate message from the top half of the Voice Presentation. 2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Audio applet, click the Menu icon (small striped square), followed by Save as. 3. A new window will appear. Use the Save In drop-down menu to select the download location of your choice. (Select your Desktop or a folder you have specified for exported content so it is easy to locate later). 4. Use the Files of Type drop-down box to select the file format you wish to save. You may select.wav,.spx, or.mp3. 5. Enter an appropriate name in the File Name box and click the Save button. 26

32 Reordering Slides Instructors can reorganize slides using simple drag-and-drop functionality. Drag the slide of your choice above or below another slide or thread. Drop the slide/thread in its new location. Slides will be instantly reordered. To move a slide so it becomes a reply of another slide or thread, simply drag the slide to a slide or thread of your choice. A valid destination will be highlighted in yellow as your mouse moves over it. Entire threads may also be relocated. Dragging and dropping a thread will move the top-level slide, along with all comments, to a desired new location using the methods described above. When reordering, all information within a slide or a comment (Title, Author, URL ) will be preserved when the item is moved. However, the information displayed will depend on its place in the Voice Presentation: Slides display the Title and will launch the URL in the right-hand pane. The name of the Author is not displayed. Comments display the name of the Author. The Title and the URL are not displayed. Options In addition to the standard Voice Presentation features, the Options button provides additional playback and display abilities to students and instructors. This button allows instructors to import/export Presentation content. Play on Click We have developed a more time-efficient manner for reviewing posts. Rather than first selecting a message and then clicking its Play button, you can choose to play messages automatically when clicking on them. To enable this setting, click the Options button in the upper right-hand corner of a Voice Presentation and then select Play on click. The next time you click on a message containing audio, playback will begin automatically. 27

33 Continuous Play Continuous Play allows students and instructors to review an entire Presentation's content (without the need to select each individual slide for playback). Slides will play from top to bottom, starting with the first slide you select and ending with the last slide of the Presentation. Only visible (uncollapsed) messages with associated audio will play. By default, all Presentation threads are collapsed. If you enable Continuous Play before expanding these threads (manually, or via the Expand All feature), only top-level messages will sequentially play. It is recommended that you also utilize the Play on click feature (as detailed above) for even greater ease-of-use. To Enable Continuous Play 1. Click the Options button 2. Select Continuous Play 3. Select and start the desired message from the top half of the Presentation Expand/Collapse All By default, Voice Presentation content is organized in single, and collapsed, threads. Expanding all threads simplifies review of an entire Presentation, especially when using the Continuous Play feature. To display all Presentation content, click the Options button and then select Expand All. You may also restore the Presentation to its original state, which is useful if you only wish to review top-level threads via Continuous Play. To do so, click the Options button, followed by Collapse All. Refresh Each time a user accesses a Voice Presentation, it loads the most up-to-date content. Instructors and students may refresh the Voice Presentation applet at any time to review any updates made to the Presentation since it was launched (helpful when leaving the Presentation open for a long duration, or to review posts due at a certain time). To reload the Presentation, click the Options button and then select Refresh. 28

34 Importing In addition to recording new messages, instructors also have the ability to import content directly to a Voice Presentation. This includes pre-recorded audio files, a single or multiple Presentation message(s) / thread(s), or even an entire Voice Presentation. Supported formats include: MP3: Mpeg 1, layer 3 at 32, 44 or 48kHz (mono or stereo) PCM/WAV: 8bit or 16bit at 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, and 44 khz (mono or stereo) Ogg Speex (NOT Ogg Vorbis): at 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, and 44 khz (mono or stereo) GSM/WAV: 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, and 44 khz (mono or stereo) WVB: Previously exported "Wimba Voice Board" (Presentation) file To Import Content 1. Click the Options button. 2. Select Import A new window will open. Browse for the file on your hard drive or network drive. 4. Select the appropriate file. 5. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Import window. 6. An Import Progress window will appear as the file is uploaded. 7. A confirmation message will appear once the import has finished. 8. A new message will appear in the Presentation, titled with the name of your file. This title may be edited. You may also import a previously exported "Wimba Voice Board" (Presentation) (.wvb) file directly from the Manager interface by clicking the Import button, in the center of the screen, above the list of Presentations. 29

35 Exporting Voice Presentation content need not remain exclusively online. Single and multiple slides, top-level threads, and entire Presentations can be exported to your computer for preservation or import to another Voice Presentation or Board. Exporting content allows instructors to utilize course material every semester within new Voice Presentations, as well as develop a repository of audio and text, which can be shared with other faculty members using Voice Presentation. Voice Presentation content can be downloaded in the following formats: "Wimba Voice Board" (Presentation) (.wvb) Speex audio in archive (.zip) WAV audio in archive (.zip) MP3 audio in archive (.zip) Note: The Wimba Voice Board (.wvb) file format is only playable within a Voice Presentation or Voice Board. This format is recommended if you plan to import content to another Presentation or Board. To Export Content 1. Click the Options button 2. Select Export A new window will open. Use the Select what you want to export drop-down menu at the top of the window to choose the appropriate content. 4. Use the Select the export format drop-down menu to determine your desired data output. 5. Click the Next button to select the download location of your choice. (Select your Desktop or a folder you have specified for exported content so it is easy to locate later). 6. Enter a name in the File Name box. 7. Click the Save button at the bottom of the window. Note: Opening a Voice Presentation without clicking a slide, followed by the Export button, will allow you to export either an entire "Voice Board" (Presentation) or all top-level messages (from the Select what you want to export dropdown menu). Clicking an individual message or thread allows you to export either of the two options above, as well as that selected slide/thread. To Export Multiple Individual Slides or Threads 1. Select the first slide of your choice. To select the next consecutive slide(s) / thread(s), hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and then click the next slide/thread. To select a non-consecutive slide/thread you wish to export at the same time, hold down the Control key on your keyboard and then click the appropriate slide(s)/thread(s). 2. Follow the instructions above to export the content. You may also export an entire Voice Presentation directly from the Manager interface by clicking the Export button to the right of the appropriate resource from the list of Presentations. 30

36 Wimba Podcaster Overview An authoring and subscription resource for podcasts Introduction Wimba Podcaster is a complete, start-to-finish podcasting application. It allows you and your students to author (and/or upload) vocal recordings and distribute them over the Internet using syndication feeds. All.mp3 files are hosted on the Wimba Voice server, which also automatically creates the RSS feed. Users can play messages directly within Wimba Podcaster, download audio from the feed, or subscribe using their preferred RSS reader. 31

37 Wimba Podcaster Creation To Create a Wimba Podcaster 1. Log in to the Manager as a PowerUser or Administrator 2. Click the Wimba Podcaster link 3. Click the New button in the center of the screen 4. Enter a Name for your Wimba Podcaster 5. Click the Create button Settings and Access Control You may adjust settings to modify the behavior and appearance of your Wimba Podcaster. From the list of Wimba Podcaster instances, click the name of the one you wish to modify. A new page will appear with a list of categories on the left-hand side of the page. Information The Information area allows you to modify the Name of your Wimba Podcaster and specify additional, optional info. A Description is useful for posting important text, such as a due date or instructions. This text appears below the Wimba Podcaster name and above the applet. You may enter the URL of the page where you will host your Podcaster. A link to this page will appear in s users receive, if they choose to be notified when a new message is posted. An Instructor may also select which individuals are notified within the Privileged Users / Groups areas. If you make any modifications to this area, click the Apply button in the lower right-hand corner. 32

38 Settings Display short message titles By default, message titles contain a wealth of information: Subject Name of individual who posted the message Length of recording Posting date If you select short message titles, only the subject line and the name of the individual who created the message will be displayed. Allow users to post to podcast By default, only instructors can create new podcast messages. Selecting this will extend this ability to students. Podcast auto-published after By default, messages will be automatically published (reach the syndicated feed) after 5 minutes of posting. You may adjust this to a shorter or longer duration. Note: Users who have downloaded a podcast message will not automatically see/hear any modifications made to that message after it is published. These modifications will only be available by reviewing the message within the Wimba Podcaster itself or within the RSS feed. Audio Quality The default setting (Standard Quality) will suit most needs. However, you may adjust the quality higher or lower, depending on your users connectivity to the Internet. Standard Quality streams audio messages at a rate of approximately 13 kilobits per second (kbps), which works well for users on high and lower-bandwidth connections alike. Resource's allowed document bases A list of authorized web pages where PowerUsers and Administrators may embed (also known as publish) this Wimba Podcaster. URLs must begin with either an or prompt, and end with a trailing slash and an asterisk. This allows pages within these domains to publish applets. (i.e., Note: The Wimba Voice server itself also contains a master list of Allowed URLs, set by an Administrator. If you include a URL not in the master list, only this resource may be published on the specified URL. Publish Follow the on-screen instructions to copy and paste the appropriate code from the Publish page to distribute a link to the Wimba Podcaster, create a link on a web page (using HTML code), or embed the Wimba Podcaster on a web page. 33

39 Using Wimba Podcaster Once a Wimba Podcaster is created and you are satisfied with its settings, it is ready for immediate use. To Access a Wimba Podcaster 1. Log in to the Manager 2. Click the Wimba Podcaster link 3. Click the View (eye) icon located to the right of any instance from the list of Wimba Podcasters 4. The Wimba Podcaster will load in a new window You can resize a Wimba Podcaster by dragging the gray bar (above the message pane) up or down. Creating a New Podcast Message The New button, located in the upper left-hand corner of the Wimba Podcaster, allows new messages to be created. By default, this option is available only to instructors, but may be enabled for students within the feature's settings. Click the New button to create a new message. A Compose window will appear. Subject Enter a relevant title for your thread in the Subject field. This field is required. Preparing Your Microphone (Optional) Several optional features allow you to change your recording device and enhance your audio quality. 1. Click the Menu icon (small striped square), located in the upper right-hand corner of the Audio applet. 2. Select Audio Input, followed by the device of your choice 3. Select Audio Filters. By default, the two filters (Auto Gain to normalize voice and Noise Reduction to minimize background noise) are selected. You may enable/disable these as you see fit. Note: These settings will not be preserved when you reload or change a Wimba Podcaster. Recording a Message 1. Click the Record button (red circle) and speak into a microphone or headset connected to your computer to record your message The Time Indicator on the left-hand side of the applet displays your current position; the indicator on the right shows remaining time. If you reach the maximum audio message length, recording will cease. All audio you have recorded up to that point will be preserved. 2. Click Pause (two bars) to pause recording; click this button again to resume recording your message 3. Click Stop (square) when you have completed your message 34

40 4. Click Play (green triangle) to listen to your message. Click Record to re-record. Notes: During review, you may change your playback device by clicking the Menu icon. Select Audio Output, followed by the device of your choice. During playback (or when a message is paused), you may hold down your mouse button and drag the Slider Control to rewind or fast-forward to a particular point in the message. Adding Text to a Message To enter text to accompany your recording, click and type in the large text field at the bottom of the Compose window. Typing a message is optional, but may provide helpful information (such as verbiage to accompany a message, or "show notes"), or text that complements your recording. Posting a Message When you are satisfied with your recording, and have entered a Subject (as well as any appropriate text), click the Post button at the bottom of the Compose window. If you do not wish to post this message, click the Close (X) button in the upper right-hand corner of the Compose window (Windows), or the red button in the upper left-hand corner (Mac), followed by the Yes button in the Confirm window. Reviewing a Message To Review a Message 1. Click a message title in the top half of the Wimba Podcaster 2. The message (and its text) will appear in the message pane at the bottom of the Wimba Podcaster. 3. To listen to a message, click the Play button within the Audio applet 4. To raise/lower volume, click the Volume Control button, in the lower left-hand corner of the applet 5. To change your playback device, click the Menu icon (small striped square), in the upper right-hand corner of the applet 6. Select Audio Output, followed by the device of your choice During playback (or when a message is paused), you may hold down your mouse button and drag the Slider Control to rewind or fast-forward to a particular point in the message. The Time Indicator on the left-hand side of the applet displays your current position; the indicator on the right shows remaining time. 35

41 Playback Options In addition to the standard Wimba Podcaster features, the Options button provides additional playback abilities to students and instructors. Play on Click We have developed a more time-efficient manner for reviewing posts. Rather than first selecting a message and then clicking its Play button, you can choose to play messages automatically when clicking on them. To enable this setting, click the Options button and then select Play on click. The next time you click on a message containing audio, playback will begin automatically. Continuous Play Continuous Play allows students and instructors to review all Wimba Podcaster messages at once (without the need to select each individual message for playback). Messages will play from top to bottom, starting with the first message you select and ending with the last message posted. It is recommended that you also utilize the Play on click feature (as detailed above) for even greater ease-of-use. To Enable Continuous Play 1. Click the Options button 2. Select Continuous Play 3. Select and start the desired message from the top half of the Wimba Podcaster Editing a Message If you wish to modify a message, click the Edit button at the top of the Wimba Podcaster. A new window will appear, providing the ability to record/re-record an audio message, as well as alter any text and/or the Subject field. Editing is only available to individuals with instructor level privileges, who may edit any message (including messages from other instructors and any student). It is strongly recommended that edits are performed before a message is auto-published; otherwise, users who have already downloaded content associated with a message will not have the most recent information on their local machine or portable device. Users can always go directly to the Wimba Podcaster, or the RSS feed, in the event a message has been modified since auto-publication. Note: Users who have downloaded a podcast message will not automatically see/hear any modifications made to that message after it is published. These modifications will only be available by reviewing the message within the Wimba Podcaster itself, or within the RSS feed. 36

42 Deleting a Message Individual messages can be deleted from the Wimba Podcaster at any time. However, keep in mind that users who have already downloaded a message's content will continue to retain it on their computers. Users who subscribe to a Wimba Podcaster after any of its content has been deleted will not automatically download former content. Deletion is only available to individuals with instructor level privileges. To delete a message, click the appropriate message in the top half of the Wimba Podcaster, followed by the Delete button at the top of the A confirmation prompt will pop-up, asking if you wish to delete the message. Click the Yes button to delete the message. Click No to cancel. Subscribing to Podcasts There are three ways to subscribe to an instance of Wimba Podcaster: Click the Subscribe button to subscribe to this podcast in your default podcast reader application Drag the Subscribe button into any podcast reader application (such as itunes, or Juice) Click the RSS Feed button; a new window will open. Copy/paste the URL that appears in the address bar into your preferred podcast reader application. Once a user subscribes, their podcast reader application will automatically download new messages created within a Wimba Podcaster instance. This content will then sync to an ipod (or other portable device), if this has been set up within the podcast reader software. Note: Subscriptions only apply to a single instance of Wimba Podcaster. If your course utilizes more than one Wimba Podcaster, repeat this process within each instance as desired. 37

43 Importing In addition to recording new messages, instructors also have the ability to import audio in order to create a podcast. The pre-recorded audio files must be 10 MB or less in size, and use one of the following audio formats: MP3: Mpeg 1, layer 3 at 32, 44 or 48kHz (mono or stereo) PCM/WAV: 8bit or 16bit at 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, and 44 khz (mono or stereo) Ogg Speex (NOT Ogg Vorbis): at 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, and 44 khz (mono or stereo) GSM/WAV: 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, and 44 khz (mono or stereo) To Import Audio 1. Click the Import button at the top of the Wimba Podcaster. 2. A new window will open. Browse for the file on your hard drive or network drive. 3. Select the appropriate file. 4. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Import window. 5. An Import Progress window will appear as the file is uploaded. 6. A confirmation message will appear once the import has finished. 7. A new message will appear in the Wimba Podcaster, titled with the name of your file. This title may be edited. You may also import a previously exported "Wimba Voice Board" (Wimba Podcaster) (.wvb) file directly from the Manager interface by clicking the Import button, in the center of the screen, above the list of Wimba Podcaster instances. 38

44 Exporting Podcast messages can be directly exported onto your local hard drive, bypassing podcasting applications such as itunes. You may also preserve and import an entire Wimba Podcaster and import it into another Wimba Podcaster, Voice Board, or Presentation. Wimba Podcaster content can be downloaded in the following formats: Wimba Voice Board (.wvb) Speex audio in archive (.zip) WAV audio in archive (.zip) MP3 audio in archive (.zip) Note: The Wimba Voice Board (.wvb) file format is only playable within a Voice Board or Voice Presentation. This format is recommended if you plan to import content to a Voice Board or Presentation. To Export Content 1. Select the podcast message(s) you wish to Export. Note: To select multiple messages, hold down the Control key on your keyboard and then click the appropriate messages. 2. Click the Export button at the top of a Wimba Podcaster. 3. A new window will open. 4. Use the Select what you want to export drop-down menu at the top of the window to choose the appropriate content. Note that you may select all messages. 5. Use the Select the export format drop-down menu to determine your desired data output. 6. Click the Next button to select the download location of your choice. (Select your Desktop or a folder you have specified for exported content so it is easy to locate later). 7. Enter a name in the File Name box. 8. Click the Save button at the bottom of the window. Note: Opening a Wimba Podcaster without clicking a message, followed by the Export button, will allow you to export all messages. Clicking an individual message allows you to export either all messages or the selected message. To Export Multiple Individual Messages 1. Select the first message of your choice. To select the next consecutive message(s) / thread(s), hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and then click the next message(s)/thread. To select a non-consecutive message you wish to export at the same time, hold down the Control key on your keyboard and then click the appropriate message(s). 2. Follow the instructions above to export the content. You may also export an entire Wimba Podcaster directly from the Manager interface by clicking the Export button to the right of the appropriate resource from the list of Wimba Podcaster instances. 39

45 Saving Message Audio Audio associated with any message can be downloaded to your local hard drive. To Save Audio 1. Click the appropriate message from the top half of the Wimba Podcaster. 2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Audio applet, click the Menu icon (small striped square), followed by Save as. 3. A new window will appear. Use the Save In drop-down menu to select the download location of your choice. (Select your Desktop or a folder you have specified for exported content so it is easy to locate later). 4. Use the Files of Type drop-down box to select the file format you wish to save. You may select.wav,.spx, or.mp3. 5. Enter an appropriate name in the File Name box and click the Save button. 40

46 Voice Overview with standard text, plus a vocal element Introduction You have likely composed thousands of messages and they have all had one element in common text. How often has tone been misconstrued because of this? Voice adds the emotion and candor, mood, expression and inflection of human voice to electronic, asynchronous correspondence. 41